Friday, 31 January 2014

School Film Club

Watching The Selfish
Giant last night (brilliant btw) I was reminded of a film club when I was
at school. We were shown 6 films over a number of weeks. The films were well
attended – hundreds possibly. I can remember 4 of the films: Hawk the Slayer, Gregory’s Girl,The Blues
Brothers and Kes. I wish I could
remember how old I was – 13 or 14 I reckon, but I’m not sure. Some readers won’t know these films but it
doesn’t matter - what’s interesting is their range: silly fantasy (though we
boys loved it), romantic comedy, risqué (or boorish) comedy (Blues Brothers was a 15 cert) and serious drama. We were trusted
with difficult subject matter and with films that included swearing and a
little bit of bare flesh (I seem to remember!) even though we weren’t all 15.

It made me want to
come up with a list that would work for my school now– a mixture of fun,
serious, provocative, romance, action and horror – whatever, without anything too pretentious (difficult
for me). The game is to come up with a
programme of six films: 15 certificates are allowed – it would be for Years
10-13, and provide a one (or two) sentence plug. Here’s what I came up with (bearing in my mind
I’m planning for a girl’s school):

·Little
Miss Sunshine (15): a dysfunctional family set off on a road trip. Very
funny and one of those films you’ll want to discuss afterwards.

·Wadjda
(PG): the first film ever made by a women in Saudi Arabia, about an 11 year-old
girl desperate to ride a bicycle. Sounds serious but is cheeky, funny and full
of life.

·The
Bourne Identity (12):most of
you love a good action film so why settle for anything less than the best. It’s
Matt Damon innit?

·Shuddh
Desi Romance (12):a very modern
Bollywood film – quite a bit of kissing and (even) the odd swear word (!); it's about
three young Indians not sure that marriage is such a good idea.

·Moonlight
Kingdom (12): a boy and a girl, tired of the hypocrisy of the adults around
them set out together to survive alone: cute, silly, whacky, bizarre and very
funny.

·Let the
Right One In (15): a Swedish Vampire Horror. One of the most beautiful,
moving and sad films of the 21st century.